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AUSTIN TEXAS |
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Five
scouts were sent out in 1839 to explore around the new Republic of Texas,
looking for a site for the new capital city. A location was found on the north
bank of the Colorado River, where the
prairie met scenic hills. At the time the
site was lived on by 4 families who called their settlement. Waterloo, soon to
be renamed Austin, named after Stephen F. Austin, also known as the Father of Texas.
In addition to being the capital of Texas Austin is also the country seat of Travis County. With a population, at last count, of 757,688, |
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Austin is the 15th largest city in America and the 4th largest in Texas.
In 2006 Money magazine picked Austin as the #2 Best Big City to live in the United States. By 2009 Austin had slid to the #3 spot in the Money magazine "Best Place to Live" survey. MSN has called Austin the "Greenest City in America. Somehow CNN and Travel & Leisure magazine determined Austin was #2 on a list of cities determining where the "best" people lived, according to the personalities and attributes of a town's citizens. |
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Austin has what is called a subtropical humid climate. That means it can get hot and muggy, with hot summers and mild winters. There is plenty to see and do in Austin and the Austin area. If
you are a fan of the longest running PBS show, Austin City Limits, you can try
and get the hardest ticket to get in town and attend a taping. If that does not
work out you can go on the Austin City Limits Tour. Both watching a taping and
the tour are free. In Austin's Slaughter Creek Metropolitan Park you will find Veloway, where bicyclists and in-line skaters have a winding path 3.1 miles long, 23 feet wide, all to themselves, with no walker or joggers allowed. The asphalt covered loop runs through more than 100 acres of green scenic parkland. If you are a Stevie Ray Vaughan fan you can visit a memorial to him by strolling along on Town Lake's hike and bike trail, stopping at Auditorium Shores to visit a life-size statue of the guitar legend. The Lone Star Riverboat paddle wheeler takes tourists on sight-seeing trips on Town Lake, cruising under bridges, past limestone cliffs and wilderness scenery on a 1.5 hour tour. You can take the Hill Country Flyer for a laid-back train trek through scenic Hill Country northwest of Austin. The best time of year to ride the Hill Country Flyer is spring, if you want to view wildflowers. Plus in spring the temperature is ideal, with the open windows of the 1920s train coaches. In the heat of summer you can fork over some extra money and ride in the 1950s era air-conditioned lounge car. After a 2 hour ride you reach the Hill Country town of Burnett where you can get a cheeseburger, and more, at the Tea-Licious Restaurant If going to a clothing optional beach is something you would like to experience, Austin has that covered, or uncovered, too, at Hippie Hollow on Lake Travis. Hippie Hollow is a 109 acre, secluded sunbathing swimming beach, that people come to take their clothes off from all over the world. The Austin Zoo and Animal Sanctuary specializes in rehabilitating rescued animals. The zoo has more than 300 animals from more than 100 different species. Open daily from 10am til 6pm. |
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AUSTIN BAT COLONY
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AUSTIN MUSEUMS The Lyndon Baines Johnson Presidential Library and Museum is on the campus of the University of Texas. At LBJ's insistence, admission to his Presidential Library is free. You can walk through LBJ's Oval Office, listen to an animatronic LBJ spin some of his homespun humor and wisdom and view exhibits that tell the story of LBJ's life and Presidency. The Blanton Museum of Art contains art from Texas and around the world. This is the largest university art museum in America, with what is considered one of the largest, oldest and most comprehensive collections in the country. The
Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center has exceptional holdings, like
the world's first photograph, a Gutenberg Bible, a 1450 edition of Chaucer's The
Canterbury Tales, along with the complete working libraries of James Joyce and
E. E. Cummings, plus manuscripts of Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Allen Poe, Mark
Twain and Walt Whitman. |
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The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is a showcase for the proud heritage of Texas. The museum welcomes you with a humongous Texas Lone Star out front. You will leave this museum thoroughly versed in the history of Texas. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildlife Center covers 178 acres of hilly Texas prairie. When Lady Bird Johnson was First Lady she put in motion a Make America Beautiful program that spruced up towns all across the nation. The site includes display gardens, themed gardens and a lot of landscaping showing how to use native Texas plants. There is a visitor center with exhibits. The Austin
Museum of Art is Austin's top spot for 20th century and contemporary
art. Associated with the AMOA is a smaller branch known as Laguna Gloria,
occupying a villa on Lake Austin with a 1916 Italianate mansion, with lush
landscaping and outdoor sculptures. |
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The Mexic-Arte Museum covers traditional and contemporary American Latino painting and sculpture. The
George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center showcases the
contributions Austin's African-American have made to the city and Texas. There
is a theater, dance studio, art gallery and a children's exhibit about
African-American inventors and scientists, like George Washington Carver. |
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AUSTIN FESTIVAL & EVENTS The
Star of Texas Fair and Rodeo usually takes places the same time of year
as the South by Southwest Music Festival in mid-March. This is an old-fashioned
livestock show with a rodeo, plus a carnival, Texas fair food and live music.
Top acts show up to play, like Maroon 5 and Merle Haggard. Art City Austin is an event that expresses Austin's innovative, creative and expressive nature. Hundreds of new and established artists gather to show their works of art. The event takes place at Austin City Hall and Lady Bird Lake in early April. The Austin Reggae Festival is one of the biggest and most popular Reggae festivals in Texas. The festival takes place in mid-April, featuring dozens of Reggae bands from around the world The O. Henry Pun-Off World Championship takes place in mid-May, when punsters battle to see who has the most clever wit and wordplay. The
Texas Hill Country Wine and Food Festival pairs Texas wine producers
with culinary artisans to celebrate Texas food and wine. The festival takes
place in late March and early April. |
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AUSTIN PERFORMING ARTS The Paramount Theater is Austin's top location for performing arts events.. The University of Texas Performing Arts Center is the location of Bass Concert Hall, which brings a mix to campus of internationally acclaimed performers. The Living Center for Performing Art sits atop the south bank of the Colorado River, serving as a hub for cultural arts performances. Austin Lyric Opera has been winning critical acclaim since 1986 for its lyrical presentations with international artists and new singers teaming up for the 3 opera season that runs from November through March. AUSTIN'S SIXTH STREET & WAREHOUSE DISTRICT Sixth Street, East of Congress, is party central for Austin. This is where MTV's Real World Austin troublemakers made most of their trouble. Check out the rooftop patio at the Iron Cactus Mexican Restaurant & Tequila Bar. Go to Spill for a dance club. Go to the Real Worlder's favorite body shot spots at The Chuggin' Monkey and The Dizzy Rooster. You can find less rowdy locales on Sixth Street, East of Congress, at Lovejoy's, which is a brewpub, Casino el Camino, with its sort of scary Goth decor, or the swanky Club Deville. Sixth Street, West of Congress draws an older, less rowdy crowd. You will find an English style pub with a double-decker patio, called Opal Divines Freehouse, with an impressive selection of Scotch and beer. If you are looking for a Russian themed bar go to the Molotov Lounge and have some vodka. Feeling Irish? Go to Mother Egan's Irish Pub for a pint of Guinness. In the Warehouse District you will find a much different scene than Sixth Street. You won't see so many UT coeds. But, you will see ladies sipping wine while listening to jazz. The Ginger Man has a huge selection of beer, with a big patio. Cedar Street Courtyard has a sunken courtyard with live music. If you want to dance above a shark, head to Qua Bottie Lounge. The Warehouse District has a few Gay Bars, including Oilcan Harry's and Rainbow Cattle Co., with two-steppin' on a huge dance floor, with Thursdays being Girls Night Out. WHERE TO STAY IN AUSTIN In the South Congress zone there is Hotel
Saint Cecilia, which is a unique Victorian inn. The
Austin Motel and Hotel
San Jose. Downtown lodging locations include La
Quinta Inn Austin Capitol, Radisson
Hotel & Suites Austin-Town Lake, Hyatt
Regency and the Courtyard
Marriot. A bit more expensive is the downtown Driskill
Hotel, built in 1886 as a cattle baron's mansion. The Intercontinental
Stephen F. Austin Hotel is another lodging option with historical luxury.
Another luxury downtown hotel is the Four
Seasons, overlooking Lady Bird Lake. The
Mansion at Judges' Hill is a boutique hotel originally built as a private
home in the early 20th century. WHERE TO EAT IN AUSTIN For Mexican food, in South Austin, on Congress Avenue you will
find Guero's Taco Bar,
located in a historic feed store, full of South-of-the-Border charm, drawing
Mexican food aficionados and celebrities. Former President Bill Clinton is such
a fan his favorite combo of chicken taco, beef taco, tamale and guacamole is
named after him. In North Austin look for Fonda
San Miguel for authentic Mexican food. For a quick lunch try Changos
Taqueria. At El Patio you will find what many claim are the best chips and
queso in Austin. |
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Visit
our Eyes on Texas Blog to make a comment or share info about Austin |
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HOME TEXAS TOWNS PARADES | |||
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BIG BEND COUNTRY | |||
GULF COAST PINEY WOODS | |||
PRAIRIE & LAKES HILL COUNTRY | |||
SOUTH TEXAS PLAINS | |||
PANHANDLE PLAINS | |||
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Highland Lakes System Boerne | |||
Luckenbach Fredericksburg | |||
New Braunfels San Marcos Wimberley | |||